SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:7
Cierto que si bien hicieres, será acepto; y si no hicieres bien, a las puertas duerme el pecado, y a ti será su deseo, y tú te enseñorearás de él.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 4:7
Verse 7. If thou doest well] That which is right in the sight of God, shalt thou not be accepted? Does God reject any man who serves him in simplicity and godly sincerity? But if thou doest not well, can wrath and indignation against thy righteous brother save thee from the displeasure under which thou art fallen? On the contrary, have recourse to thy Maker for mercy; Åbr tafj jtpl lappethach chattath robets, a sin- offering lieth at thy door; an animal proper to be offered as an atonement for sin is now couching at the door of thy fold. The words tafj chattath, and tafj chattaah, frequently signify sin; but I have observed more than a hundred places in the Old Testament where they are used for sin-offering, and translated amartia by the Septuagint, which is the term the apostle uses, 2 Cor. v. 21: He hath made him to be sin (amartian, A SIN-OFFERING) for us, who knew no sin. Cain's fault now was his not bringing a sin-offering when his brother brought one, and his neglect and contempt caused his other offering to be rejected. However, God now graciously informs him that, though he had miscarried, his case was not yet desperate, as the means of faith, from the promise, &c., were in his power, and a victim proper for a sin-offering was lying ( Åbr robets, a word used to express the lying down of a quadruped) at the door of his fold. How many sinners perish, not because there is not a saviour able and willing to save them, but because they will not use that which is within their power! Of such how true is that word of our Lord, Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life!
Unto thee shall be his desire, &c.] That is, Thou shalt ever have the right of primogeniture, and in all things shall thy brother be subject unto thee. These words are not spoken of sin, as many have understood them, but of Hebel's submission to Cain as his superior, and the words are spoken to remove Cain's envy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - When Cain was born, Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord Perhaps she thought that this was the promised seed. If so, she wa wofully disappointed. Abel signifies vanity: when she thought she ha the promised seed in Cain, whose name signifies possession, she was s taken up with him that another son was as vanity to her. Observe, eac son had a calling. It is the will of God for every one to have something to do in this world. Parents ought to bring up their children to work. Give them a Bible and a calling, said good Mr. Dod, and God be with them. We may believe that God commanded Adam, after the fall, to shed the blood of innocent animals, and after their death to burn par or the whole of their bodies by fire. Thus that punishment whic sinners deserve, even the death of the body, and the wrath of God, of which fire is a well-known emblem, and also the sufferings of Christ were prefigured. Observe that the religious worship of God is no ne invention. It was from the beginning; it is the good old way, Jer 6:16 The offerings of Cain and Abel were different. Cain showed a proud unbelieving heart. Therefore he and his offering were rejected. Abe came as a sinner, and according to God's appointment, by his sacrific expressing humility, sincerity, and believing obedience. Thus, seeking the benefit of the new covenant of mercy, through the promised Seed his sacrifice had a token that God accepted it. Abel offered in faith and Cain did not, Heb 11:4. In all ages there have been two sorts of worshippers, such as Cain and Abel; namely, proud, hardened despiser of the gospel method of salvation, who attempt to please God in ways of their own devising; and humble believers, who draw near to him in the way he has revealed. Cain indulged malignant anger against Abel. He harboured an evil spirit of discontent and rebellion against God. God notices all our sinful passions and discontents. There is not an angry envious, or fretful look, that escapes his observing eye. The Lor reasoned with this rebellious man; if he came in the right way, he should be accepted. Some understand this as an intimation of mercy. "I thou doest not well, sin, that is, the sin-offering, lies at the door and thou mayest take the benefit of it." The same word signifies sin and a sacrifice for sin. "Though thou hast not done well, yet do no despair; the remedy is at hand." Christ, the great sin-offering, is said to stand at the door, Re 3:20. And those well deserve to perish in their sins, that will not go to the door to ask for the benefit of thi sin-offering. God's acceptance of Abel's offering did not change the birthright, and make it his; why then should Cain be so angry? Sinfu heats and disquiets vanish before a strict and fair inquiry into the cause.
Original Hebrew
הלוא 3808 אם 518 תיטיב 3190 שׂאת 7613 ואם 518 לא 3808 תיטיב 3190 לפתח 6607 חטאת 2403 רבץ 7257 ואליך 413 תשׁוקתו 8669 ואתה 859 תמשׁל׃ 4910
